A/N: I do not own Harry Potter nor the Advent of the Archmage. They are owned by J.K. Rowling and Mo Xiang respectively.

He felt lighter. Not exactly happy or content, but rather as though a burden was taken off his shoulders. Ever since last night and his talk with Mr Lovegood, Luna's dad, he noticed that his sense of guilt had lessened significantly. Not entirely, not until little Luna was awake once more.

However, now that his mind was not clouded with guilt and near grief, he was able to think clearly again. He was able to link up (Pun intended) what he had not noticed weeks ago. What will soon happen and what he needs to do.

Dumbledore must have noted what happened towards the end down in the chamber. He must be aware of the existence of the diadem, the possession and its significance. It's a good thing that he was preoccupied with the fallout of the incident. He had a dead teacher and a comatose student. The masses will expect an explanation. He must also deal with the pressure the dark faction will no doubt bring down on the school in an effort to throw out the light sided headmaster from his seat.

The past few weeks were without a doubt troubling and taxing, but there is little doubt that the Headmaster will soon be done with it. Resolving both issues and holding the reigns.

Which means, Link must now think of a way to accomplish what he needs to and come up with a good answer for the elder wizard.

First, he must create a map, one that will allow him to ascertain every location of the different soul shards if there are any more than the three he currently knew of. Unfortunately, he was not yet strong enough to remove the soul without hurting the container, which is the main reason why he had not yet removed the fragment from Rose's scar. He would be able to purify her of the soul sometime next year, he was confident of at least that much.

Regrettably, for the two items currently containing the soul shard, they will have to be destroyed. The diary is not much of a loss, just a simple blank book. However, the diadem seemed much more prestigious. Studded with multiple precious stones, gilded with rare metals, and the design all point to a pre-victorian nobility. A rather esteemed family from the looks of it, probably close to the royal family of the time.

It seems there is no option but to destroy it.

The second thing on his list is to perhaps preempt the headmaster and go to him with the fixed story, and the reason as to why he now has the tiara.

He has to go and get Rose. She will want to know what is happening. Plus in the chamber, he can accomplish much outside of prying eyes.

The Headmaster's office was a place of great prestige. The entrance is a gargoyle that moves aside only for the correct password, which means you can only enter through invitation or if you are someone the Headmaster trusts. Woe to those that try to force their entry.

The stairs leading up to the office spiral in a beautiful arc which leaves one in awe of the beautiful architecture. Not to mention the constitution and the patterns embedded into the very core of every step. The swirls and the lines glowing in resplendent lights. At first glance, one might very well dismiss them as just that, designs and nothing more.

However, if you were to look carefully, at a precise angle, you would be amazed at the sheer brilliance taken to form only the staircase. An interwoven circuit of mana that depict the very map of the castle they reside in. How the magic travels from one end to the other, how it disperses magic pulled from the very core of the earth to the expanse of the school. The explanation of how Hogwarts can produce above-average mages en masse. The reason why this school will forever be part of the top 5 schools in the world.

Going up this masterpiece of architecture and magic, you might not notice the intricate details that surround you, as even Link missed it the last time he was here.

Once inside, you will be left breathless by the beauty that greets you. Large bookcases lining every wall filled to the brim with books. Some of which were too dangerous to be left even in the forbidden section of the Library. Some are so old they date to a time before the castle was built. All available for use at the Headmaster's discretion. Something very few people over the course of the school's history had enjoyed.

Some shelves were home to not books, but a few miscellaneous contraptions, each oscillating in rather mesmerising manners. Every single one of them served a different purpose, there were also relics of an age long past. The sorting hat is the most famous of them all.

The desk in the middle of the circular office was almost as grand as the room it stood in. Decorated with beautiful imagery of every animal of every house. It was almost enough to grab the attention away from the single most formidable creature one may come across.

A bird made out of fire, if fire were solid. Flames flickered on its skin, licking at the air around it. Every feather of this mesmerising creature seemed to be dancing with an invisible wind, light smoke billowing every so often. Its eyes were a work of miracles, fire frozen into ruby red jewels that stared deep into every man's soul. Judging them whether they are worthy of its presence.

The phoenix is the symbol of the light, for only those that are deemed worthy, as the majestic bird will not tolerate any it considers unworthy to approach.

Behind the desk, sprawled all across the wall, were pictures of every headmaster the school had since its inception. All present to offer their wisdom and advice to the current Headmaster or Headmistress.

All was silent in the great study, save for the soft trilling of the Phoenix and the faint snoring from the portraits. The peace was disturbed from the final place of the office.

A great fireplace was erected at the left of the desk, a constant low-fire to keep the place warm. It too was decorated in a similar fashion to the desk. With miniature statuettes of each house's representative animal.

Suddenly, an explosion of green flames roared to life startling the portraits awake as the Headmaster emerged having just returned from the Ministry.

Dressed in his usual flamboyant robes, this time a dark purple roble with twinkling stars racing along the canvas, Dumbledore heaved a sigh. He was tired. He didn't like this political arena he found himself often pulled into. If it were up to him, he will prefer to focus only on the school. However, he cannot in good conscience, let those in the dark faction reign in the country however they please. He must always try and mitigate it.

Just today, besides having to close the ordeal regarding the disaster that happened in school, he was pulled into another debate regarding a law the dark faction tried to push one more time. The anti-werewolf legislation. The amount of bigotry in the Ministry has only increased since the downfall of the Dark Lord, and has not decreased as was hoped.

Dark times were ahead of them if they do not come up with something to reduce the discrimination.

Sighing once more, Dumbledore slowly made his way to his desk.

"Hey there Fawkes, how you been boy?"

He asked while lovingly petting his familiar's fiery wings, his fingers remained unhurt despite the fire surrounding the bird. Just shows the incredible control over fire the Phoenix possesses.

The bird of myth released cooing trills of delight, nuzzling ever more into the caring hand of its owner.

"I think I have a lemon drop somewhere. Ahh, here we go… you are the only one that takes my sweets, Fawkes. You are the only one that understands just how delicious these delightful treats taste."

The firebird released a few more trills of joy at the sight of its favourite treat, gobbling it up within moments.

Satisfied, Dumbledore sat down and began to contemplate all that happened recently. The political plays at the ministry. The dark faction were still sour over the recent loss of a medium of information regarding the portkey registration. That same law he was able to get out of Malfoy. They pulled all the stops to try and get him removed from his post as Headmaster. After a few weeks' worth of meetings, favours and manoeuvring he was finally able to settle the affair. Now that he had time to think and relax, he remembered a few details that bothered him.

It was time to speak with Link. There are some things that need clarifying.

"Lony!"

With a pop, a house-elf answered the call, appearing before the Headmaster.

"Hello, Sir Headmaster sir. How can Lony be of assistance?"

"Lony, could you please summon Mr Link Granger and Ms Rose Potter? I have some words to exchange regarding the incident a few weeks back."

"Right away, Sir Headmaster sir."

With that he popped away, leaving the Headmaster alone to organise his thoughts.

It was an interesting few weeks. Depressing too, especially since Luna had not awakened yet.

She had met the eccentric House elf, Dobby, during that time. It was a little odd, the meeting that is. He was so frantic at first, till she explained that the problem was already dealt with. Then like a switch that kept getting flipped. The poor elf kept alternating between elated joy and anguished self-harm. It was evident that the magic that bound him to his family forced him to punish himself for delighting in the failure of his master.

She was quick to assuage him and reassure the little elf, till he left content by the end of it.

Now she was with Link in the chamber once more. He had explained that he needed a space to perform magic with the tiara. So, she followed, curious as to what is going to happen.

However, for the past 20 minutes, all he did was inscribe symbols on the floor, runes they are called. He tried to explain their individual function, but it was too complicated. He settled for explaining the main goal.

He wanted to see if there are any more of these horrible things that possessed Luna, to do that he wanted to create a map to find them. Which explains the map of the United Kingdom that he brought with him.

It took another 5 minutes for Link to stand up, seemingly satisfied with what he wrote. She saw him take out two items that were familiar, well the tiara was familiar, the book just looked like an ordinary diary.

Link placed first placed the map on the runic circle, followed by the two items. He knelt before it, sliced at his palm making it bleed before placing it at one of the nodes.

"Mi proponas mian sangon por mapo de la animaj pecoj." (A/N: Esperanto, which I would like to pass off as the other world's magical language, which basically translates to: "I offer my blood for a map of the soul pieces")

The symbols lit up in eerie crimson light as they melted onto the map. It only got stranger from there as the two items started screeching in agony as they were forcibly wrenched from their vessels. Their piercing wails lasted all of 10 seconds before they were silenced once more as they were integrated onto the drawn map.

Soon after 4 crimson lights were blinking on the chart. One of which was not idle, it never stayed in one position for too long, it kept moving about erratically all over the map. It was moving too fast for it to be in human possession, the most likely is that it was hidden behind powerful ancient wards. Likely under the fidelius charm. There was another right next to him, proving his previous assumption correct. The aura he felt from Rose's scar is the same aura as the book and the diadem. Rose is a container of Voldemort's soul shard.

"Alright Rose, let's leave. I think we will have to speak with the Headmaster soon."

"Ok, but what are we going to do with the map?"

"We?"

"Yes, we. Don't think you can go on your own. I'm coming with you whether you like it or not."

Sighing in resignation, he nodded in agreement.

"We will go in the summer. It will be our daily adventure" he added with a wink, much to Rose's excitement.

They cleaned up what they were working on, and picked up the two discarded items. Unfortunately, they were both fragmented. The diadem was broken into 3 pieces, and the book ripped right down the middle. They made their way to the exit.

Once they walked out of the chamber, they were greeted by a house-elf.

"Were you waiting for us?"

"Lony has been here for only 5 minutes. Headmaster Dumbledore is wanting to speak with you Mr Granger, Ms Potter."

"Thank you for waiting for us, we are ready to meet the Headmastrer."

The little elf took hold of their arm and popped them right to the grand office.

"Now that you are here, I am sure you both are aware as to why I summoned you, right?"

""Yes, Headmaster""

"Good, so I would like to cut to the chase, as I am sure you would like to visit your friend whom I've just been told that she is about to awaken."

The two children were visibly relieved to hear the good news. They were also itching to leave as fast as possible.

So Link took the initiative to bring out the diadem, preempting Dumbledor's question with an explanation.

"Rose and I went back down to see the chamber. The tiara fell off during the fight, so we went to retrieve it. Unfortunately, it was broken."

"Broken?" he asked bewildered. Though as soon as he saw the crown, Dumbledore stood in haste, eyes widened in awe. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Yes sir, that the fabled lost diadem of Lady Rowena Ravenclaw." was Link's reply, to the bewilderment of Rose. She had no idea she was in possession of an artefact from a legendary figure.

"Amazing" he whispered, but then sighed in resignation "unfortubately it was desteroyd."

'This boy… he's amazing. I know that this was a former horcrux, I can feel the residue. But to think he was able to destroy it. It gives this old man hope for the future.'

Before they could continue with the conversation, they were interrupted by the sudden entrance of Lucius Malfoy.

Dressed in acromantula silk, green in colour, and expensive accessories. The elder Malfoy illustrated an impeccable noble front. His every action showcasing elegance and poise. Though he is someone Rose has a huge disliking towards, even she must admit that the man displayed the epitome of noble etiquette. He was only a bit pale, more so than he usually is from what she remembers of their encounter in Diagon Alley.

However, Rose was quick to notice the only blemish on the otherwise pristine image the Malfoy Lord portrayed. Following behind in a dirty pillowcase was the very elf that tried to help her the entirety of the year. So that's who he served. Well, she kept silent, no need to get him in trouble. Link and Rose both stood to the side to allow the adults to converse.

"Lord Malfoy, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?" started Dumbledore, his tone jovial.

"I'm sure you believe you won some kind of battle today. Having successfully swept everything that happened under the rug. Including the law on anti-werewolf legislation. But mark my word, we will pass that act. It is only a matter of time. I believe this time next year may very well see its inception." sneered Malfoy, disdaining the man before him.

"I am sure you will try Lucius. However, I fear you may continue to see me as an impressive obstacle to your ploys." continued Albus, just as jovially as usual.

"It's already too late, old man. The play is already in motion. It won't be long before we gain traction from even your precious 'light' side. Mark my words"

"If all you have come here for is such baseless banter…"

"I also come as a representative of the Board. You need to hire a new professor for the Defense Against the Dark Arts. You have till the end of the year, in a month's time, else the Board will choose in your stead. We already have several options in mind."

"I see. Thank you for relaying the Boards message. I have already been in search for the past week. I believe I might have a suitable replacement. I will give a definitive answer in a week's time. Plenty of time for your deadline. In the meantime, I have asked Severus to teach that class."

Sneering in silent contempt, Lucius merely nodded in consent, spun in place and made to exit. But not before kicking the poor elf as it dared to block his route.

"Professor, if we are finished, may we go visit the hospital wing?" asked Link, though he sounded a little pressed to Rose.

"Of course, convey my best to Miss Lovegood." the Headmaster agreed easily.

Rushing out of the office, Rose was quick to follow, also eager to reach her friend.

However, at the bottom of the stairs, they caught up with the wizarding noble. He was still kicking his elf every few steps. His anger obviously not sated. The Potter heir was quick to notice her best friend bringing out the diary from before.

"Mister Malfoy, can I have a word?"

"Why should I even bother with you boy?" he sneered. 'I have to restrain myself. I can't lose myself here. I just have to wait till summer, I'll take care of things personally this time.'

"Now that I can see you up close, you seem a bit under the weather. All good?" Link inquired, an amused glint in his eyes betraying his concerned words.

For some reason that irked the Lord. Before he could respond, Link continued.

"Remember this book? I found it lying around, I think it belongs to you"

Receiving the journal, Lucius' eyes widened imperceptibly in recognition. Carefully keeping his expression schooled, he scrutinised the boy before him.

"Just thought you might like it back" smirking at his hidden irritation, Link called out to Rose. "Come on we still have to make it to Luna"

"Coming"

With that, the two children left the Malfoy Patriarch alone with his vexation. Handing the book to his elf, he continued towards the exit. Walking a few steps, he quickly noticed the lack of scurrying.

"DOBBY!"

"Master has given Dobby clothes"

"What?"

Turning in bewilderment, Lucius was stunned witnessing his slave holding up a blue tie.

"Dobby is free" was the poor elf's revered whisper, tears gathering at the relieved creature's eyes.

Quickly remembering that damned mudblood's lack of tie in the earlier conversation, Malfoy senior was beyond incensed. 'I, a noble Slytherin, was tricked by a little piece of shit's scheme.'

Screaming in anger he spun around only to come up with an empty hallway, rotating again he saw his previous elf has also vacated the corridor. He could do nothing but stew in his anger with no outlet. He left quickly promising painful retribution to the thrice-damned bastard.

The two arrived at the infirmary, seeing Mr Lovegood and Madam Pomfrey surrounding Luna's still form. From their expression, it seemed they were anticipating her awakening any time now.

They gathered as well, eagerly awaiting her waking up.

"Mhm"

The moment the four saw Luna's eyes fluttering open, it felt as though a huge weight was taken off. As though you held your breath underwater to the very limit of your capabilities before finally emerging and taking a fresh breath of air.

It was evident the girl was confused as to where she was, her eyes wandering until eventually, they settled on her father.

"Daddy? What are you doing here?"

Elated and relieved Xenophilius grabbed his daughter in a tight hug, sobbing in delight that he could hold her once more. Although she was confused by his presence she was never one to decline a hug, so she hugged him back with just as much enthusiasm.

"My daughter… my girl… my baby girl… Thank Merlin you are alright…" the father's murmured sighs echoed in the otherwise silent room.

"What's wrong dad, of course, I'm fine. Also, where am I?"

Taking that as her cue, Madam Pomfrey chose this moment to make her presence, and by extension that of the two children, to the patient.

"You are in the Medical wing of Hogwarts. As to why you are here, well, you were in a magical coma for the past few weeks, Miss Lovegood."

"Oh"

Her father retracted the hug, but he was still close enough to hold onto her hand as he sat next to her. Rose took that as an opportunity to rush forward and hug her friend.

"I'm so glad you are back" she whispered with tears in her eyes. Something that Luna appreciated, as she needed to be held with such a revelation.

"I know it can be difficult to adjust. However, you will need to stay here for another week to make sure you are healthy. First, what is the last thing you remember?"

"I was walking along the castle corridors when I felt a pull."

"A pull?"

"More like a feeling. I was sure I was going to find the Crumpled Horned Snorkack. I was sure of it. They were right there. Did I find it?"

"No, Luna. You were… You were possessed by a cursed artefact." supplied Link,

"What?"

"Don't worry, nothing bad happened. We were able to get to you before anything could happen. So rest easy Luna" he was quick to reassure. There is no reason for her to be made aware at this moment. In the future, when she is older, we can revisit this if necessary. However, as of this moment, only the people here and Professor Dumbledore are even aware of what happened. They saw no reason to burden her any more than necessary.

There was relief evident in her posture at the news.

Time flew by, it is now mid-july. Life just got infinitely more complicated for the Malfoy family. There is no evading it anymore, Lucius Malfoy, Lord of House Malfoy, Husband of Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, father of Draco Malfoy, was dying. Much to the dismay of his family members.

It started 4 months ago, a little after losing his elf Dobby, the leader of the Dark Faction's health started to slowly deteriorate. It was not noticed at first, attributed to the change in weather, however, he kept getting worse.

The Healers at St Mungos were flummoxed as to the reason at first, they later determined the cause to be the result of a disease. A type they had not encountered previously.

An enormous sum was invested to come up with a cure. To save the Lord, multiple Healers spent days, months even, trying to study the sickness.

Unfortunately, as the man's health worsened so too did the Hospital's staff lose hope. They were unable to come up with anything due to the ever-changing nature of the curse. All their potions and their spells did absolutely nothing to alleviate the symptoms.

An imaginary timer hung above the Malfoy family as the father seems to continuously lose strength, his breath laboured. His voice was lost a month ago. All that came out were incoherent words, grunts of pain and screams of agony.

His wife and son had been with him since May, his son having joined right after his exams were over. Professor Snape has given him a leave of absence due to familial reasons.

It was incredibly painful for the two, seeing their loved one suffer so much. Especially the man that served as an immovable rock in their life, supporting them and loving them.

Say what you will about the man, but he was a devout family man. Family truly did mean the most to him.

For all their woes, nothing could exceed the mounting fear in the man's eyes as every day ended. For he remembered what he forgot forcibly. It happened a few days after he lost his ability to speak. He was able to recollect every detail of that day, at the infirmary. The day his whole life was flipped upside down.

Flashback (Start):

They were kneeling before the boy, no the demon. Chained to the floor, helpless.

"I disdain all those who oppose progress. For the betterment of the wizarding world, I feel something must be done about you lot. You will be a stepping stone for that goal, though I doubt the world will realise that until it is all over. Even you two. Now enough of this, we digressed into a tangent. Allow me the pleasure of explaining to both of you the wonderful process you shall both undergo. Lest you forgot, you attempted to kill my parents, you shall not experience the pleasure of a painless death."

He paused for a moment, for dramatic effect. Their looks of looming horror and hatred were also exhilarating.

"Let's start with the most immediate consequence. You Lucius, the power upholding the family, you shall be the first. I am certain that my family is not the first you have targeted. I find it befitting that your family suffer a similar fate. You might be asking how I will accomplish such a thing. Quite simple really, I am going to curse the two of you right now. It will only take a moment."

He pointed both his hands at the two adults. From each palm, a murky yellow curse flowed slowly. They did not slam into the target but rather merged with them as though they were always together and this was but a reunion.

"This here is a spell of my creation. It took me upwards of a month to figure out how to create new spells, and another month to create another. Now with some experience in spell creation, it took me about 3 days to come up with this particular curse. See when

I found out who was responsible for the attempt, I started developing a method to deal with them. I am not strong enough to weather the storm if I were to outright kill you. So I had to come up with an alternative plan. This is the result."

Lord and Lady Malfoy were rigid, they had no idea what was going to happen. They had just been cursed, yet there was no evident reaction so far. Was it defective? Of course, it was, it's impossible to just casually create a spell. 3 days? Pah, who'd believe that? It takes a few months from concept to finish, provided you have at least a few years of deep theoretical knowledge. Snape had been a remarkable case, in his 6th year he had been able to develop his own spell, however, it still took him three-quarters of the year to accomplish.

Already a sneer could be seen forming on their face. For a bunch of Slytherins, they wear their emotions on their sleeves. Isn't that embarrassing? Let's make it so.

"You must be thinking why there is no effect if I cursed you, right? Don't act so shocked, I see right through you. Worry not, you are indeed cursed. The effect is only delayed. Let me explain what is about to happen. Lucius, you will be affected first. I will obliviate the both of you shortly, so you won't really remember what I said, or what will happen to you. You won't feel anything had happened for the first two months. The curse is progressive, kind of like a sickness. You will not know what hit you until it's too late. At the 2 month mark you will start feeling slightly lethargic, nothing too unusual. It will probably be attributed to the summer haze. By the third month, you will be too helpless to even move about, I predict you would be sent to St. Mungo for treatment at that time. Unfortunately, they will not realise its magic in nature as the curse had integrated itself into your very being at that time. In the fourth month, your organs will start failing one after the other, at an extremely slow, yet excruciating, pace. By month 5 you would have lost the ability to form any coherent words, just a string of moans and groans as your very being is being destroyed from the inside out. You will also remember everything that happened today at that time."

The looks of mounting horror were disturbingly cathartic to the young man. He really enjoyed making them suffer like this. He knows that makes him the farthest thing from an angel, but as long as he is fighting on their side, he doesn't mind being the devil. Someone has to if the angels are to always be pure and present.

"I want you to imagine the absolute anguish you will feel when you realise the cause of your condition. However, being unable to speak or write, you will writhe and scream hoping for your wife to help you. As she is the only other person to know what is going on. She will remain clueless, and helpless as she witnesses her husband scream in what she perceives as endless agony. This condition will persist for one more month. Hopelessness, despondency, agony. They shall be your only company, to follow you till the end of your days. Admittedly by then, it won't be long. Finally, in the last 5 minutes of your life, you will remember the counter curse for this. A final flickering of hope, only to be snatched away by your incapacitated body. Death will only come to you then. The last thing your family will see is the widening of your eyes, intense screaming, and finally the unending tears of despair."

The process was breaking the family mentally. Their breath was in hitches, their thoughts in hysterics. Their eyes glassed over with denial and fear. They felt true fear for the first time in their lives.

"I am not a complete monster, in regards to your son, I give his mother another 2 years to be with him. So that he is not entirely left to the wolves, so to say. Though, I believe that shall leave you lady Malfoy quite stricken and helpless as you watch your son become indoctrinated by a whole new ideology. I shall make him a sympathiser. The very money you hold so dear shall be used for the betterment of half-bloods and new-bloods. The world will change and your son in the very middle of it. Worry not, your death shall not be as gruesome as your late husband. In fact, you may have a chance at life if you change your ways. Though if you do not, you shall die as well, with a less painful version of what your husband will go through. It will happen within a month."

The Malfoys were catatonic by that point, their eyes wide and fearful. Their breath, short and quick. Their bodies, covered in cold sweat.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Ahh, Professor Dumbledore. He is right on time. The wards probably alerted him to a dark curse being used here. Let's make this show believable, shall we?"

Link quickly dispelled the chains and obliviated the two adults, altering their memories so that they believe he had just entered the infirmary. Their wands were in their hands, and curses on their lips. The whole scene continued as though what had transpired had never occurred.

Link was dodging and retaliating with his wand. Limiting himself to a few spells, such as the protego, the expelliarmus, and a few other Year 5 spells and under. Nothing too powerful, but enough to allow him equal footing with the two enraged parents.

The knocking was much more powerful now, not too long after the doors exploded outwards as the headmaster strode into quite a peculiar scene.

Flashback (End):

As the boy had predicted, Lucius Malfoy did indeed scream, plead begged the heavens and swore to the 9 levels of hell. He pleaded with Merlin and tried to trade his soul with the devil. Everything, anything to relieve him of his pain and to allow him more time in the world.

Nothing worked.

His despair only grew as he saw how much suffering his family was going through with every wail he uttered.

His eyes pleading his wife to remember. To direct the doctors toward a new area of search. To research the curse.

His son was pale with fright, having to witness his father suffer such torment. His wife flushed with tears, miserably trying to comfort her son and deal with her own withering emotions.

Lucius knew he was going to die.

However, as a last form of dignity, when he remembers the counter-curse he will stay silent. Best let his family think he passed peacefully, an effort to not give that smug mudblood the satisfaction of being right in his final moments of life.

That's what he told himself. Yet the moment he remembered the counter, he felt an extreme wave of pain course through him. Worse than all the pain he felt throughout his 4 months sick.

That bastard will make sure the Malfoy Lord has no respite.

Screaming, the patriarch focused his eyes on his wife for what will be the final time.

He knows the futility of the effort, but he must try. He must. He can't just give up and die He knows it will hurt his family even more, but he can't help but try. The desperate need to survive.

He tried every possible way to convey the words, yet all that did was cause his family to break down once more, looking more and more distraught at his suffering.

His imploring eyes locked with his wife's terrified ones, willing with every fibre of his being for her to remember, yet all he received was a blank look of despair.

The world around him was dissolving into a colourless and muted expanse.

Unconsciously, in the last few seconds of his life, his eyes drifted to the door, a silhouette stood there watching, observing, gloating. He recognised it. The damned boy that caused all this. Yet he could do nothing but stare as his vision faded completely into darkness. His hearing picked up an ominous dreadful whisper that he knows belongs to the demon.

"And then there were two"

With a final scream, Lord Lucius Malfoy breathed his last. Leaving behind the wailing sounds of his two family members. Their future is now uncertain.

The family was gathered around the living room, an unopened letter laying there awaiting its recipient to come open it.

Link exited the toilet moments later and joined his family.

"Quickly, check your grades. Come on"

His mother urged him, Rose nodding in enthusiasm.

Smiling, Link picked up the missive, opened it and examined its contents. His grin widened, he passed it along to his parents so they can examine it.

O.W.L. results for student Link Granger:

- Defense against the Dark Arts: O+

- Transfiguration: O+

- Charms: O+

- Potions: O+

- Herbology: O

- Astronomy: O

- History of Magic: O

- Care for Magical Creatures: O

- Ancient Runes: O+

- Arithmancy: O+

- Divination: N/A

- Muggle Studies: N/A

(A/N: I know, not original, but well. He can't really score lower)

Grading System:

O: Outstanding (Pass with distinction)

EE: Exceeds Expectations (Pass and allowed to attend N.E.W.T.s)

A: Acceptable (Pass)

P: Poor (Fail with possible appeal)

D: Dreadful (Fail with no appeal)

T: Troll (Fail with distinction)

"Congratulations" squealed Rose as she hugged her friend.

Meanwhile, for the parents, it was a matter of course that their son is ahead of his peers. They were used to his academic prowess. The did not diminish the pride they felt never the less.

"Let's go out and celebrate today." exclaimed Dan, smiling with pride at his son.

"Yes, let's" agreed Emma.

A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter. Sorry for the late chapter, as an apology this one is slightly longer than usual.